Subjects and Verbs: Part I
In the next three
issues of Weekly Grammar Tips,
we'll be discussing subjects and verbs—and how to make them agree with
each other.
The
following rules come from
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation website, courtesy
of Jane Straus.¹
You can view additional tips, read Jane's blog, or purchase her book at the following
website:
http://www.grammarbook.com. Jane's site also includes tons of free
quizzes so you can test your knowledge. If you can't get enough grammar
quizzes, you're in luck. Jane also offers a subscription area
containing over 100 interactive quizzes!
NOTE: In the article below, subjects are shown in bold
and verbs are underlined. (The original
article
uses a different convention.)
Finding Subjects and Verbs
by Jane Straus
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Being able to find the right subject and verb will help you
correct errors of agreement.
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Example: |
The list of items
is/are on the desk.
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Being able to identify the
subject and verb correctly will also help you with commas and
semicolons as you will see later.
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Definition. |
A Verb is a word
that shows action (runs, hits, slides) or state of being
(is, are, was, were, am, and so on).
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Examples: |
He ran
around the block.
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You are my friend.
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Rule 1.
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If a verb follows
to, it is called an infinitive phrase and is not the
main verb. You will find the main verb either before or after
the infinitive phrase.
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Examples: |
I like
to walk.
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The efforts
to get her elected succeeded.
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Definition. |
A Subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the verb.
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Example: |
The woman hurried.
Woman
is the subject.
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Rule 2. |
A subject will come
before a phrase beginning with of.
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Example: |
A bouquet
of yellow roses will lend color and fragrance to the
room.
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Rule 3. |
To find the subject
and verb, always find the verb first. Then ask who or what
performed the verb.
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Examples: |
The jet engine
passed inspection.
Passed is the verb. Who or what passed? The engine,
so engine is the subject. If you included the word jet
as the subject, lightning will not strike you. Technically,
jet is an adjective here and is part of what is known as the
complete subject.
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From the ceiling
hung the chandelier.
The verb is hung. Now, if you think ceiling is the
subject, slow down. Ask who or what hung. The answer is
chandelier, not ceiling. Therefore, chandelier
is the subject.
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Rule 4. |
Any request or
command such as "Stop!" or "Walk quickly." has the understood
subject you because if we ask who is to stop or walk
quickly, the answer must be you.
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Example:
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(You)
Please bring me some coffee.
Bring is the verb. Who is to do the bringing? You
is understood.
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Rule 5. |
Sentences often have
more than one subject, more than one verb, or pairs of subjects
and verbs.
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Examples: |
I like
cake and he likes ice cream.
Two pairs of subjects and verbs
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He and
I like cake.
Two subjects and one verb
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She
lifts weights and jogs daily.
One subject and two verbs
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Are you ready for the
quiz?
Click here to take an interactive quiz at The Blue Book of
Grammar and Punctuation website.
Click here to read
Part II in the series!
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Source:
1. Straus, Jane. "Finding
Subjects and Verbs."
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation.
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerb.asp.
Published with permission. |
